Spraying or atomizing apparatus



H.' E" STUR'CKE.

SPRAYING 0R ATOMIZING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY14| 19 15.

1,303,987. Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

14 'EI '19 i E I H. E. STURCKE.

SPRAYING 0R ATOMIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI4. 1915.

1,303,987. Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. E. STURCKE. SPRAYING 0R ATOMIZING APPARATUS} APPLICATION min MAY-14.1915. 1,303,987. v Patented May 20,1919.

3 SHEET8-8HEET 3 H ERMAN EDWAED STURGKE, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SPRAYING OR ATOMIZING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

paint or the like, although it will be under- I stood that the invention is generally applicable to the spraying of all classesof materials.

The object of my invention is to provide" devices in a. system of this character which will simplify the operation of painting or spraying and increase the efiiciency of the apparatus in use. W Some preferred forms of the invention will nowbe described in referenceto the accompanying drawings, in' which;

Figure 1 is a part-diagrammatic, partperspective view of a system in accordancewith a preferred embodiment ofthe lIlVGIl tion, in which there IS PIOVIdGd means controllable by the operator in the painting position, for regulating the pressure in the paint receptacle.

Fig. 2 shows a system provided with -means controllable in the painting position forregulating both the pressure in the paint receptacle and the pressure of the jet of gas issu ng from the nozzle of the painting tool or brush.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a simple spraying system embodying the invention. Fig. 4 shows a painting brush provided with means for regulating the presure in the paint receptacle.

lrfig. 5 shows a preferred form of regulating or pressure reducing valve of Wellknown kind employed. in connection'with the invention.

Fig. '6 shows a painting system in which the paint is fed under gravity.

Fig. 7 shows a system employing a force pump for feedingv the paint to the brush.

The operation of a brush for paintin or spraying by a blast of pressure gas such as compressed air, carbon dioxid under pressure, or the like, presents a serious difficulty when used for painting on a large scale, suchas the exterior of buildings, bridges or Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed May 1 4, 1915. Serial No. 28,102.

outlet into the painter is painting surfaces Patented May 20,1919.

even ordinary interiors in that the pressure at which the paint is supplied at the nozzle of the brush varies within wide limits, thereby varying thevelocity at the nozzle to sue an extent as tomake it almost impossible to paint with nicety. In systems in which the paint is supplied under pressure by admitting gas under pressure to the top of the paint receptacle, thereby forcing the paint out through the paint mg the paint brush naturally varies relative to the position of the paint receptacle, and thisvariation in the distance between the paint receptacle and the paint brush in a vertical direction afl'ects the pressure at which the paint is supplied in view of the fact that a given pressure at the paint receptacle will deliver the paint at a predetel-mined velocity at a given point, but the flexible connection leadto the paint brush, the position of velocity of the paint will increase or devcrease proportionately according as the paint brush is raised or lowered from said given point. This problem is one of particular difliculty in the case; where the which are inaccessible, such as eXteriors,-etc., where the painter stands upon a ladder or other small platform which makes it practically impossible to carry a paint receptacle containing a large quantity of paint close at hand.

When painting under such conditions, ow-

ing to the-wide variations in the paint pres-' sure, it is necessary for the painter as he moves u and down the ladder to make frequent trips to the paint receptacle to ad ust the pressuretherein by means of the reducing'valve with which such receptacles are usually provided, and this frequent interruption of work not only limits the range over which the painter can apply the paint, but-also renders the operation of painting in this manner fatiguing and inefiiclent.

It will be'obvious that the same diflicultlyl exists when the paint is fed to the brus under gravity from a point located above it,

and also ini th'e less usual case when the paint is forced by means of a feed pump or the like tothe brush.

In accordance with my invention, ll provide means for overcoming the aforementioned defects in apparatus of this character, thereby enablingthe painter or user of the apparatus to cover a wide range of surface within limits imposed only by the length of the hose connections between the paint brush and the receptacle. Moreover,

I avoid any necessityon'the partof the operator to interrupt his work and move from the posltion where he is painting to the position where the paint receptacle is located in order to regulate the pressure of said receptacle to correspond with variations in the vertical distance between it and the paint brush- -A further advantage of the invention resides in the fact that pressures at the paint brush varying only through a small range which does not in-- terfere with efiicient work, can be secured,

notwithstanding the fact thatthe'paint receptacle is located some considerable distance either above or below' the position Where the painting is being carried on.

I The preferred form of the invention illus-" trated in Fig. 1 will now be described.

Referring to said figure, 1 is a receptacle containing compressed air, carbon dioxid or like pressure medium, which passes from the outlet 2 of said receptacle into a pressure reducing or regulating valve 3 of well-known kind, the construction of which is later described with reference to-Fig. 5. Connected with the outlet 4 of said valve 3 is a. flexible pipe or hose 5 connected with the T-connection 6 of a regulating valve 7 mounted upon a panel 8 andprovided with body-securing means, here shown as a leather strap 9, and

adapted to be secured in'buckle 10, .whereby the panel can be carried by the painter, who

by the operator.

Wlll support same bypassing the strap 9. over his shoulder. A pipe 11 leads from the other end of said T-connection 6 to the brush 12 of well-known form,-said pipe 11 being also flexible and of suitable length to permit of the free movement of the brush hollow inlet 13 also serving as a handle, at the upper end of which is a'valve contained 1n the valve casing 14, which valve controls the passage of the air'or gas into the nozzle ,15.- The aforesaid valve is controlled by the means of a lever 16,whi ch isconnected with the valve spindle 17 of'valve 18, controlling passage of paint through the paint nozs' zle 19, the paint being fed into said nozzle as hereinafterdescribed through the flexible connection 20.

The air or the regulator 7 carried by thepanel 8 asses therethrough, and its pressure is suitab y reduced by adjusting the handle 21 of said regulator until the desired pressurein the paint receptacle is obtained; this being indi-v cated by any suitable well-known pressureindicating meanssu'ch as the gage 22. The

'- 7 gas at the desired pressure from said reguator then passes through the flexible connection 23 to the inlet 24 of'the aint rece tacle25, said inlet being contro led by t e manually operated valve 26. A 27 con- The brush comprises a- I gas under pressure entermg mounted on panel 8'may be opened to connect the upper end of the to the atmosphere if it is desired to release the pressure from the paint and thereby stop the feed thereof due to the pressure of the fluid remaining at the top of the receptacle after the pressure reducing valve 7 has been operated to out 01f or to reduce the supply of pressure fluidto the paint recep-. tacle.

The operation of my improved system is as follows:Before commencing to paint, the operator regulates the pressure of the atomizing fluid which is to issue from the nozzle 15. This is done'byoperating the handle of the pressure regulating valve 3, wherebyv the required degree of gas pressure will be obtained and owing to the lightness of these gases, the pressure of the gas at the .nozzle 15 will be substantially constant even though the nozzle be raised or lowered for a nected. with the flexible connection 23 and paint receptacle great distance. relative to the gas container.

so that he himself supports the paint to the nozzle 19b 'thewall, he will require a relatively low res-f sure at the top of the paint receptac e in order to force a small column of the paint in the pipe 20 out of the nozzle 19 at the required velocity.

Having set the -regulating valve-7' to admit the .gas at the necessarypressure to thepaint receptacle, the

operator proceeds to paint the lower part of the wall and then continues-with the upper portions. Assuming that the paint receptacle isstandi'ng on the ground,-it will I ofpaintto be lifted by the be higher, 'and'eonsequently the pos tion for be obvious that as the painting takes place. at a point farther away from the paint receptacle in a vertical direction, the column gas pressurewill which the regdlating valve 7 .fisslet is incorrect for painting at this time, since the pres sure of the gason top of the paint will impart too slight a velocity to the stream of paint issuing from the nozzle 19. Owmgto the fact that the means-for regulating the "feed of the paint supply is-located in --prox.-

imity to the paint brush itself, and is carried by the painter it will be apparent that in I the embodiment of my invention here illustrated, all itis necessary for the operator todo at this. time, inorder to obtain the same flow of paint as he used in painting the to such an extent that the velocity of the the paint receptacle,

issuing paint is substantially the same throughout all the different --which painting takes place.

positions at I There is no need for the operator to make any trips to whichmay be as large as desired, may be arranged either below or above him in the most convenient position with similarly beneficial results.

The conditions are somewhat different when the painter starts at the top of the wall and, paints downwardly. In order to force the high column of the relatively heavy paint to the top of the wall, it'is necessary to operate the regulator 7- to admit high pressuregas to the top of the paint recep-' tacle 25. As the painter proceeds downwardly, the regulator will require progressive adjustment to reduce the pressure of the fluid supplied to the paint receptacle, otherwise this pressure would be too great and the paint would be delivered at too high a velocity. It would not be sufficient, how

ever, to rely upon the regulator 7 alone for the reduction of pressure, owing to the fact that the top of the paint receptacle is at this time filled with gas at the high pressure used for, painting the uppermost parts of the wall. It is therefore desirable, in order to reduce the pressure progressively when moving downwardly, not only to operate the regulator 7, but also to open the cook 27, which vents the top of the paint receptacle, thereby reducing the pressure in the top of said receptacle. which, after the cock 27 has been closed, will contain gas at the pressure determined by the regulator 7.

. Fig. 2 illustrates a modified form of my invention in which provision is made whereby the operator may regulate the pressure of .the stream of gas issuing from the nozzle without having to leave'the painting position, and without affecting the adjustments of the regulating means of the pressure paint feed. Referring to said figure, the

- apparatus is substantially the same as that shown in Fig.1, except for the fact that there is interposed sure of the gas issuing from the nozzle 15 maybe varied without any adjustment of the regulator 3 located on the source of sup ply 1. This arrangement is especially useful, for cases where the painting takes place at such a high elevation that the pressure required to be supplied to the paint receptacle from the gas receptacle 1 would be so high that the same pressure at the nozzle 15 would not be desirable. By means of the arrangement described in Fig. 2, it would be possible to supply air or gas under pressures varying through a wide range'to the paint yreand the receptacle,

between the paint brush 14 and the pipe 11, a manually adjustable regulator 28 and gage 29, whereby the pres- After the painting has ceased in theconstruction shown either in Fig. 1 or Fig. .2,

the pressure gas tending to pass into the paint receptacle is shut off by adjustment of the regulator 7. Notwithstanding the fact that this valve is closed, there will still be a certain amount of pressure gas contained in the paint receptacle 25, and the flexible connection 23 leading thereto.

Thisv gas is admitted-to atmosphere by opening the cock 27.-

It will therefore be noted that this cook 27 is preferably opened whenever it is desired to secure a reduction in the pressure at the top of the paint pot, whether or not this reduction is required owing to the fact that the painter is descending from a high painting position to a as described above, he has actually finished painting and Wishes to avoid the possibility of any undesired ejection of paint from the paint receptacle, due to unauthorized or accidental operation of the painting tool or as the result of any other accident. It will moreover be apparent that owing to the reduction of pressure in the paint receptacle, the paint contained in the flexible connection 20 can run back intothe paint receptacle after use. It will be understood that the flexible connection or hose pipe leading from the regulator 7 to. the paint receptacle can be of very narrow bore in view of the fact that the/pres At the same time, owing to its compactness,

the device does not .impede the painter in his movements, evenwhen the painting is carried on in extremely dangerous places. Indeed, the greatest danger in carrying on painting under such conditions is that the low-painting position. or owing to the fact that v operator must, with the old type of air-brush system, constantly make trips from his position to the paint receptacle, and it is while making such changes in position that accidents are liable to occur- Where a liquid or compressed gassuch as carbon dioxid is employed as the motive medium, I prefer to use same in-conjunction with the means described intheU. S. application Serial No. 22,371, filed April 19, 1915, Levy .(Case 5),

and the apparatus described in my co-pending application Serial No. 28,101, filed May 14, 1915. While I have here shown'a receptacle for a compressed gas or liquid gas as 'thesource of supply of the motive medium,

ing device,

it will, of course, be understood that said by a gasolene engine 36 and supplied through.

connection 37 to regulator 38 and connection 39 to inlet 40 of the paint receptacle. The cylindrical portions 41-, 41 of the regulator are connected by-collars 42, 42 by which said regulator is secured to the cross straps 45, 45 said cross straps being connected to shoulderv straps 46,46, whereby the regulating means can be conveniently carried by the painter without hampering him in his movements. 4

While it is more convenient to arrange so that the means forregulating the pressure at the top of the paint receptacle is carried upon the person of the painterhimself, it is also possible, though not so satisfactory, to arrange these means upon the painting tool itself. Such aconstruction is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the gas, supply pipe 47 is connected.withrthehollow'handle 48 of the painting tool, the bore of which is connected by a branch pipe 49 with the regulator 50, indicator 51 and cock 52, which parts are similar in all of 1. The thin pipe 53 leads to the top of the paint receptacle. Except for this modification, the painting tool is exactly the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and. 2.

e pressure regulatin herein referred may be'o known kind capable of adjustment to vary the pressure of the fluid, passing therethrough. One'such valve 7, ofwell-known type,-is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a casing consisting of two members 54, 55, between which is s'uitably secured a diaphra 56 upxon' which is mounted a seat-supporting mem er57 providedwith a seat 58 covering the small openin the hich the pipe 5 is secured-as described with reference to Fig.1. Bearing I on. the, other side of said diaphra is a spring 62fithe tension of which will? erating handle 61. 1

- the gas from the valve 7 to the indicatorv22 of any suitable well-known" form, and pipe;

23 'to' the .paint receptacle. It will be apparent that theextent ofpressure reduction. is dependent upon the tensionrof-the' spring,

respects to the parts, 7, 22, 27

or. reducing valves any'suitable well-' 59 at the conical end" 60 of pipe 61 leading from the T-piece 67, to'

regulated by-means of a nut' 63, mounted on screw shaft 64 bearing in the casing and rovided with'the ophe outlet 65 conducts tool.-. It will In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, I

have shown a gravity-feed paint system, and

in the example here illustrated, this system is shown in operation for the purpose of painting the side of a boat 68. The paint. is contained in a receptacle 69, situated on the deck of the boat, and the paint passes through-the flexible connection to the painting tool 71. Supported on the painter bystraps 72 is a panel 73 carrying a fluid regulating valve 4 ofv any suitable type adapted for reducing the pressure flow, such as is illustrated in Fig. 5, and it will be obvious that the operator can set this valve 'for a desired pressure which pressure .will

be- Inaintained automatically by the valve, irrespective'of the vertical distance between the painting tool 71 andthe paint receptacle 69. It will, of course, be obvious that the painting regulator need not be carried upon the person of the painter, and I have shown herein a second painter provided with a painting tool 7 1, with regulator74 mounted. thereon, instead of being mounted on a panel as is the case with the regulator 74.

handles 72.

on the' carriage 76 passes through the pipe 77 to force pump 78, driven by ga'solene engine adapted to be operatedagainst the action of said spring by means of the flexible Bowden transmission 84 terminating in handle 85 pivoted on', =-lu 86 and provided with a spring detent 87 adapted to take into notches in the face of the {segment 88. When the painter is painting the'lower positions, he operates the lever 84 to actuate the throttle valve to reduce the supply of gas to the gasolene engine, thereby reducing the speed at which the pump is driven, and conse- .quently reducing. the pressure of the paint issuing from the nozzle of the painting tool. As the painter paints the higher portions of the vessel or the like, he actuates the lever 84 torelease the throttle, which opens to a greater extent, thereby permittlng the gasolene engine'to exert greater power and causing the pump to force a stream of paint at thefde'sired higher pressure to the painting be obvious that instead of controlling the-gasolene engine, the pump itself w1th. v It will'beunderstood that the various con.-

The painting tools 71, 71 are controlled by In the construction shown in. Fig. 7, the I paint contained in the receptacle 75 mounted could vbe directly controlled by means located i I on the painting tool or in proximity therestructio'ns. shown herein are susceptible of wide variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention,

which broadly contemplates the provisions of means located in proximity with the spraying tool, operable to vary the pressure upon the paint in the receptacle, and the invention also contemplates the provision of automatic means located in proximity with the painting tool for maintaining a substantially constant flow of material therethroug It will be understood that by the term j gas employed herein, I-intend to include any. suitable or air. By the term-body-securing means in the claims, I intend to include any suitable means, such as straps, pockets or the like, for'securing the regulating means to the human body, by the body of the'person who is uslng the painting or spraying tool.

It will be understood that my invention is particularly applicable to the case where the t that is to say, it is P of the operator.

-material to be sprayed, means What I claim is:

1. In a spraying apparatus of the kind described, a stationary receptacle for; the for applying pressure to the contents of said receptacle, a spraying tool connected with said receptacle and located at a distance therefrom, and means in proximity to the spraying tool for regulating the pressure applied to the contents of said receptacleto a desired degree and for automatically maintaining said degree of pressure applied to the receptacle.

2. In a sprayingapparatus of the kind described, a stationary receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means for applying pressure to the contents of said receptacle, a spraying tool connected with said receptacle and located at a distance therefrom, and portable means in proximity to thespraying tool for regulating the pressure applied to the contents of said receptacle to a desired degree and for automatically maintaining said degree of pressure applied to the receptacle.

3. In a spraying apparatus of the kind described, a receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means or applying pressure to thecontents of said receptacle, a spraying tool gas, such as carbon dioxid gas so that it can be supported carried upon the shoulders of connected with said receptacle, and portable.

means adapted to be located at a distance 1 applied to the contents of said receptacle to 1 from said receptacle and in proximity to the f spraying tool for regulating the pressure a desired degree and for automatically main- V taining said degree of pressure applied to the receptacle.-

4. In aspraying described, a receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means for applying pressure to the contents of said receptacle, 3, spraying tool connected with said receptacle, portable means for controlling the presregulating sure applied to the contents ofsaid receptacle to a cally -maintaining said degree of pressure applied to the receptacle, and a flexible conapparatus of l the kind desired degree and for automati nection between sard portable regulating j means and said receptacle.

5. In a spraying apparatus of the class described, a stationary receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means for regulating the pressure feed of thematerial to be sprayed, and body-securing means supporting said regulating means in proximity to the spraying tool.

6. In a spraying apparatus of the class described, a stationary receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means for regulating the pressure feed f the material to be sprayed, and-body-securing straps amociated with said regulating means in proximity to the spraying tool.

7, In a spraying apparatus of the kind de scribed,-in combination, a source of pressure gas supply, portable regulating. means for regulating the pressure applied to the receptacle to a desired degree and for automatically malntainmg said degree of pressure applied to the receptacle, aspraying tool, a receptacle for the material to be sprayed, a flexible connectionbetween said'source of pressure gas supply and said spraying tool with means for admitting pressure gas into one side of said portable regulating means,

a flexible connection connected between the other side of said regulating means and the receptacle to admit pressure gas to said receptacle, and a flexible connection between said receptacle and said spraying tool. f

8 In'an apparatus of the class described, a source of pressure gas supply, portable regulating means for regulating the pressure applied to the receptacle to a desired degree and for automatically maintaining said de gree of pressure applied to the receptacle, a spraying tool, a receptacle for the material to be sprayed, a flexible connection between the source-of gas supply and said tool, a second regulating means interposed in said to said tool, meansfor admitting pressure gas from said flexible connection to said portableregulatmg means, a flexible connecflexible connection and located in proximity.

tion between said regulating means and said J receptacle adapted to conduct gas which has 10. In combination with a spraying apparatus of the class described, a pressure regulator, an indicator, a supporting means for said pressure regulator and indicator, and

body-securing means supporting means.

11- In combination with a spraying appaconnected with said ratus of the class described, a pressure-reducing valve, a cock connected to the outlet of said pressure-reducing valve, and body-securing means connected with said members. 12. In a spraying-apparatus of the kind described, a receptacle for thejmaterial to be sprayed, a spraying tool connected with said 1 receptacle, and portable adjustable automatic means in proximity tothespraying tool and remote from sai I regulatingthe pressure of the vmaterial to be sprayed lssuing through the spraying tool.

13. In a spraying apparatus of the kind described, a stationaryreceptacle for the material to be sprayed, a spraying tool, means for regulating said tool, connecting means between said spraying tool and said receptacle, means for applying pressure to the material to be sprayed to force it through said connecting means to the spraying tool,

and means in proximity to the spraying tool p ,for regulating the pressure applied to the material .to be sprayed and operating indereceptacle for pendently of the means for regulating said tool.

14. In a spraying apparatus of the kind described, a spraying tool, means for regulating said too], a stationary receptacle for the material to besprayed, pressure feeding -means, connecting means between said tool and said receptacle, and means on the tool for regulating said pressure feeding means and operating independently of the means for-regulatingsaid tool.

15. In a spraying apparatus of the kind described, a stationary receptacle for the material to be sprayed, means for applying pressure to the contents of said receptacle, a

- spraying tool connected to said receptacle and located at a distance therefrom, means for applying pressure to said tool for atomizing the material to be sprayed, and means in proximity .to the spraying tool for regulating the pressure app-lied to the contents of said receptacle to a desired "degree and for automatically maintaining sai degree of pressure applied to the receptacle. l6. Ina spraying apparatus of the'kin described, a stationary receptacle for the material to besprayed, means for applying pressureto the contents of said receptacle, a

. spraying tool connected to said receptacle and located at a distance therefrom, means for applying pressure to said tool for atomizing the material to be sprayed, and means in proximity, to the spraying tool for regulating the pressure applied to the contents of said receptacle without changing the pres sure applied to the tool.

Signed at Brooklyn in the county of Kings and State of New York this 13th day of May A. D. 1915.

HERMAN EDWARD STURC'KE.

Witnesses:

HENRY F. MoNn'r, JAMES MOINTYRE. 

